By Staff
Staff Reports
After falling into a 15-4 hole, the Washington Pam Pack tried to mount a furious rally, but came up short in a 68-60 setback to West Brunswick in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A state playoffs.
The Pam Pack (10-15) outscored West Brunswick in each of the next three quarters, but couldn’t overcome the big early deficit.
“That first quarter was the killer,” said Washington coach Allison Jones, who led her team into the playoffs for the third straight season. “They ran a trap and put us on our heels. We just didn’t make any good adjustments.
“I’m proud of them for how they battled. We really battled and pulled within seven, but just couldn’t overcome that early deficit.”
Senior Hayley Stowe led all scorers with 20 points. Beth Batchelor added 12 points, Staneshia Griffin 11 and Rakira Ward nine.
Jones will have to replace Stowe and fellow senior Shonnita McIver, who finished two two points, next season.
“Hayley has been a part of the basketball team for four years, and I’ve been able to work with her for three of them,” Jones said. “She and Shonnita, who has been out for two years, are great people. They are what you want your student-athletes to be.
“They were big leaders for us and those will be some big shoes to fill. We’re really going to miss them in many ways.”
Players like Batchelor and Griffin, both juniors, will be counted on for bigger things next year.
“We have to work hard in the offseason,” Jones said. “We need players like Haley Hiatt, Bria Hines and Datisha Redmond to step up for us.
“We’re making strides. We’re moving in the right direction.”
CLASS 1-A
The Southside Lady Seahawks saw their superb season come to an end in the first round of the NCHSAA Class 1-A state playoffs. The No. 10 Lady Seahawks fell 62-43 to Jones Senior on Monday night.
“It was a very off night,” Southside coach Bill Lake said. “We got down 10 in the first quarter and by another eight in the second. We fought hard and cut it down to 13, but we just ran out of gas.”
Katisha Hyman paced Southside (19-7) with 14 points. Tamisha Cradle added 12 points while Chante Painter had eight, Valerie Ruffin three, Courtney Avery two, Quaneika Thomas two and Deandria Purdue two.
Lake will have to replace his four seniors in Cradle, Avery, Caitlin Bogart and Kayla Jones.
“We had a really good season,” Lake said. “The seniors developed well and they had a great final year. I hate that it had to end this way for them.
“I’m really going to miss them. They were a special group.”